Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Who's left in camp?

Utilityman Carlos Rivero is one of 33 players still in big-league camp.

Yesterday's round of cuts at Nationals camp brought the roster of players still in the big-league clubhouse down to a mere 33 with two weeks to go until Opening Day.

Davey Johnson said he plans to start using all his regulars now that they've hit the home stretch of spring training, and he wasn't kidding. With so few reserves around anymore, he has no choice but to play the starters.

We've outlined throughout camp how the Opening Day roster really has been set all along, with injuries or a true surprise the only developments capable of throwing a wrench into those plans. But there is still some mystery what will happen to the eight players who are still in big-league camp but are all but certain not to head north with the club next week.

So with the Nationals getting their third and final day off of the spring, let's take this opportunity to refresh everyone's memory. Here are the 33 players still in big-league camp, with some speculation about what might happen to the eight unfortunate souls who won't still be standing come Opening Day...

The Nationals will open the season with a 12-man staff, so that means five of these guys will be on the outside looking in. Christian Garcia was hoping to make a push for a spot on the team, but he's going to open the year on the disabled list with a forearm strain. Cole Kimball looks like he's all the way back from shoulder surgery, but the Nats would like him to get more seasoning at Class AAA Syracuse before bringing him up again. Fernando Abad and Jeremy Accardo, as non-roster invitees, seem headed for Syracuse as well. The biggest question mark of the group remains Chris Young, who has the ability to opt-out of his contract on Sunday. The Nats would love for him to report to Class AAA and wait to be called upon if a starter gets hurt, but at this point you've got to assume somebody else out there will have a big-league job for him.

CATCHERS (3)

C Carlos Maldonado
C Wilson Ramos
C Kurt Suzuki

No real shocker here: Ramos and Suzuki will make the team, and Maldonado will open another season in Syracuse alongside Jhonatan Solano. The Nats did have veteran Chris Snyder in camp just in case Ramos didn't look ready to return from his torn ACL. But with Ramos in great shape, they gave Snyder his unconditional release yesterday, and the Angels immediately scooped him up.

Six of these infielders will make the Opening Day roster, and the obvious odd man out will be Rivero. Because he's out of options, the utilityman will have to clear waivers before he can be sent to Syracuse. It's probably a 50-50 proposition whether he clears and remains in the organization.

OUTFIELDERS (6)

OF Roger Bernadina
OF Bryce Harper
OF Tyler Moore
OF Micah Owings
OF Denard Span
OF Jayson Werth

The only member from this group who isn't expected to make the club is Owings, who has turned plenty of heads nonetheless in his first spring as a full-time position player. Fully committed to honing his craft both at the plate and in the field (both in left field and at first base), the former pitcher should accept his assignment to Syracuse and keep plugging away, hoping he can prove he's worth a call-up if the Nats need another bat off the bench.

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comments:

Thanks Mark - looks like absolutely no drama in the last two weeks. Davey has pretty much settled on his lineup with Harper 3rd & Zimm 4th. He has his rotation set and while people continue to call for Henry's demotion from the planet if not our 25 man roster, it looks like the job is his.

Kinda surprised that Accardo is one of the folks still in ML camp, as he hasn't seemed that sharp. Is he on a different type of contract (e.g., w/ an opt-out?), such that he needs more of an evaluation / showcase?

I just hope everyone who feels so strongly that the Nationals will finish above .500, with the lineup we have, are so correct. MicheleS, you certainly have nice seats in FL! Didn't Zimm look great!! See, I can think nice thoughts. But, boy, that lineup. Ugh.

Agreed that the leash needs to be short on Henry but I am still hoping against hope that the young man conquers whatever it is that is keeping him from throwing it over the plate.

I have seen or heard minimal games thanks to Mr. Angelos and whoever decided they did not want us to follow our team live. I try and read more then just NI and until today, I had read little about Maya. I realize most of you coil in horror just hearing the name but hasn't he pitched fairly well this spring? I saw the article over on the left (Fed. Baseball) and maybe, just maybe he will end up that #6 starter. I have to think this is one of the worst contracts Rizzo handled but wouldn't it be great if it ended up well?

Again, I realize that my glass is usually way more then 1/2 full and my glasses are rosy but its easier for me than being a grouch about things.

Rabbit - again, one small beer on the results of that ugh lineup. What is so difficult about that?It's an easy bet and I will even give you the push of 81/81.

320R.... - have fun this afternoon. I have grandfather duties - isn't it a shame there is not a smaller facility in the city for our Universities to play on. You have G'town, GW and AU all charging over 50,000 a year for tuition and not one decent ballfield among them. Wonder if the Nationals would consider a mini-tourney among all the local schools in the spring when we are on a road trip. How great for these college kids to play at the big boys park! Probably could not happen with all the various conferences and schedules set in advance but I always work outside the box.

Doc, I believe Rabbit had said this team--the one with legitimate Silver Slugger candidates at five of nine positions, plus a couple of dark horses, and maybe the best bench in baseball--won't score many runs.

Hahaha! Yea, probably swinging bats like they were bad hot dogs!! What intrigues me is that, in spite of the stats., I don't have confidence in the lineup coming through in the clutch. Werth....strike one, strike two, ball, strike out. Zimmerman, as much as I like him, doesn't give me a warm feeling when he comes up in the clutch either. Yes, statistics may prove otherwise, but except for Harper (and again, statistics may prove me wrong), ugh. Now, that said, I hope they knock the leather off the ball. (I won't say that thing about statistics again).

The Nats should have a great year. They have so much quality depth that even injuries to the starters will not have the impact that it would on most other teams.

They have Brown ready to come up if there is an injury in the OF - he had a .285 /.365 /.523 line last year, with 25 HRs, 22 doubles and 9 triples. And that was in only 122 games.

Any injury at 3rd to Ryan, or at SS or 2nd base, and they can bring up Anthony Rendon, who is only the most talented hitter in the entire organization, and who was the best glove man in their MiL system last year. I am not sure Walter is ready now, but he could be by mid-season, as well.

TyMo is an excellent batsman who can step in behind ALR, if necessary, although they would lose LaRoche's stellar glove. Either Marrero or Owings can fill in behind TyMo, with Owings bat then becoming the most potent weapon on the Nats bench, should he be the one.

Eric Davis and Cole Kimball are ready and able should they be needed to shore up the pen.

Solano and Onion provide substantial depth at catcher, in case of injury. Either one can back up the first-stringer, whether it be Ramos or Suzuki.

The Achilles heel is the starting rotation. I can't help but note that Kyle Lohse is still available. Let me see - who is that guy's agent? Rizzo will deal with an injury to one of the starters. He's probably got a rolodex full of options, should he need to exercise one of them.

I like this team's chances. They are even better and deeper than last year's team, and they have come through ST with only injury of note - to Garcia.

"You have G'town, GW and AU all charging over 50,000 a year for tuition and not one decent ballfield among them. Wonder if the Nationals would consider a mini-tourney among all the local schools in the spring when we are on a road trip. How great for these college kids to play at the big boys park!"

Don't forget Catholic University and Howard....neither one of which is inexpensive. A good round robin type tournament for these schools and maybe one or two others would be pretty interesting.

Swift Eagle was in Florida the past 8 days for Spring Training. I asked why he doesn't post anymore on this site. He said it was because he found himself going baseball brain dead reading some of the stuff written here daily.

NatsJack in Florida said... Swift Eagle was in Florida the past 8 days for Spring Training. I asked why he doesn't post anymore on this site. He said it was because he found himself going baseball brain dead reading some of the stuff written here daily.

I understand.

March 19, 2013 10:22 AM

When a team is this good there isn't as much to disect and analyze and it focuses on a few players instead.

I'm sure Swift will return when real games begin. He is a great voice of reason talking people down from the ledge of baseball suicide.

you should see what GW has done to their home field (Barcroft Park in Arlington)It's small, but completely renovated, nice. plus they only charge 2 bucks to get in. good weather this afternoon too, come on out folks it should be a good time. (I have no affiliation with GW or Gtown, just a baseball fan)

Knoxville Nat said... "You have G'town, GW and AU all charging over 50,000 a year for tuition and not one decent ballfield among them. Wonder if the Nationals would consider a mini-tourney among all the local schools in the spring when we are on a road trip. How great for these college kids to play at the big boys park!"

Don't forget Catholic University and Howard....neither one of which is inexpensive. A good round robin type tournament for these schools and maybe one or two others would be pretty interesting.

March 19, 2013 9:54 AM

Great idea for a tourney like they do in the BB&T for basketball.

Doesn't Georgetown University use the Shirley Povich Big Train fields in Bethesda MD for their games?

Looks like Wilson Ramos will 'up' his 7 innings he did yesterday to a full 9 on his next start!

He called a great game with JZim and they were definitely simpatico! Sounds like JZim's fastball was dipping more than usual and while his changeup wasn't getting the swing & miss you want as his MPH was too high it was still effective as they resulted in weak swings.

I wonder what JZim changed that added back 3 to 5 MPH to his changeup.

Whatever he had working yesterday he needs to bottle up because he had the Tigers starters off-balance all game.

Ghost... Wilson's Mom and his brother sat with us for a couple of innings yesterday and when I told I expected him to catch opening day, I thought she was going to kiss me.

She said that Rizzo never expected him to be in the shape he was in when he reported and I told her that his hard work would be rewarded by getting the opening day assignment.That way, Suzuki would slide in to catch Gio in the second game on Wednesday.

The kid that was with her looks like a skinny version of Ramos and has signed with the Mets. I didn't want to assk alot as Wilson was the focus of our conversation. I've sent an e-mail to my Mets contact to get the low down on the kid and will pass it on when I get it.

The fun is really shaping up for Duffy's Irish Pub on Sunday. In case you missed previous posts, that's when we'll be making our You tube recording of "Let's All Cheer for the Washington Nats," the rouser written by Yours Truly, arranged by Waddu Eye No and ready to be recorded at Duffy's by the Nats Insider Chorus featuring the likes of Sec 222, Ron in Reston (and Ron's Mom, too), Nats Lady, UnkyD, NatsNut, Waddu himself (who's been known to sing the National Anthem at Nats Park) and who knows who else. You?

Duffy's is located at 2106 Vermont Avenue, NW, and the action will start about 1:30 -- tho you can come early and have lunch. Duffy's great food will be on sale, I assure you. The game should be on, too.

Sing if you want, or just shout and cheer at appropriate moments. To RSVP, or for more information, including a copy of the sheet music, go to Waddu's special email, which is, let me get it right this time, gyfngpfb@gmail.com. There, I think that's it.

I wish I lived nearer to a good college team. The closest non- big league stadium to me is Pfitzner. What a dump. The new stadium will be just minutes from me, though. Certainly going to take a couple of years to build I am guessing.

The more I think about it, Ghost is spot on with Ramos catching opening day and Suzuki getting Gio.

I bet GW has done a fantastic job with their stadium, I also realize there is no room around any of the schools in our city for a park. That being said, it can't be fun to carpool to a practice (especially with our traffic). Sorry to hear that Howard no longer plays. Chuck Hinton was a former Senator and I know he coached there for quite some time.

Speaking of stadiums. I was coaching at Maryland when they hired Tom Bradley who used to pitch for the White Sox (among others)to coach our baseball team. He took one look at that left field fence (I think its about 275 from home plate) and told me, "there is no way I am going to be able to recruit a stud pitcher here"!! I used to love going over to Shipley Field in the spring. Great memories.

Sorry to hear about Examiner. I read Brian and Thom from time to time. It must be very difficult to run print paper in today's world. I hope they keep the website going or something. Good luck to them.

On another note, print isn't dead yet, as I received my individually printed flex plan tix in the mail the other day. Oddly enough, I'd already received the printed tickets for a June game. I ordered that one online well after I'd ordered my flex plan tix. But they're all here now so it's all good. :-)

On still another note, y'all have fun at Duffy's on Sunday. I don't think I'll make it as I have cat duty in the morning and some other stuff to catch up with after that.

The more I think about it, Ghost is spot on with Ramos catching opening day and Suzuki getting Gio.

When I made that comment a few weeks ago I did that with the caveat that Davey doesn't believe in set battery assignments which also led back to old discussions of the small sample sizes of the battery of JZim/Suzuki vs. JZim/Ramos. Its Davey's team but it sure seams like you could start with Stras/Ram, Gio/Zuk, JZim/Ramos, Haren/Zuk, Det/Ramos and then start it all over again to where Ramos gets 4 days a week and Zuk gets 3.

As far as my comments on Ramos starting Opening Day, its good that it looks like more of a possibility as I think he has earned it.

NCNatsie, I really like this "We’re first in war and first in peaceAnd first at last in the National East"

I wish you were able to work in Teddy's Bull Moose party in this verse "Republicans and Democrats,Will have their feuds and fights and spats.On this all parties can agreeThe Nationals and victory. So…"

sjm308 said... Speaking of stadiums. I was coaching at Maryland when they hired Tom Bradley who used to pitch for the White Sox (among others)to coach our baseball team. He took one look at that left field fence (I think its about 275 from home plate) and told me, "there is no way I am going to be able to recruit a stud pitcher here"!! I used to love going over to Shipley Field in the spring. Great memories.

March 19, 2013 2:18 PM

I was at Maryland with Coach Big Jack Jackson back in the 1970's long before Bradley took over in the 1990's. I met Bradley a few times looking at some of his players. Unfortunately Bradley took over a struggling team and wasn't able to improve them.

Coach Bradley did recruit Derek Hacopian who was the 1992 Triple Crown in the ACC. Derek is also the best hitting coach for youth in the DC area. Nobody is close to his raw knowledge.

Trivia for you is Hacopian chose a new agent named Casey Close who was also chosen by a High School phenom named Derek Jeter. Leading up to the draft Close would get his 2 top guys together and throw them BP and do what needed to be done to keep them sharp. I doubt Casey has to do that any more. Hacopian never made it past AAA but I heard that Jeter kid turned out to have a good career.

NatsJack, its tough taking over a sinking program as Jackson ran it into the ground as kids in the late 80's were running to the warm weather schools and Maryland had just gone through the Len Bias saga which killed all the sports.

Of course Jackson had a bunch of National Championships under his belt as Terp Baseball had some great years in the early 70's.

Coach Rupp was close to getting Ryan Braun to Maryland but he chose Miami but Rupp did get Ryan Braun's brother Steve.

After listening to Phil Wood on MASN this weekend, I not expect Owings to make the major league roster and for Tyler Moore to get sent to AAA for regular at bats.

The though is that Owings has been playing a lot of OF for a reason, and he now can play every where Moore can play if needed. The Nationals want Moore to get regular AB's and not accure major league service time. The though is that Owings is cheap and might be better than Moore is right now off the bench. Moreover, if June hits and Owings isn't getting it done, Moore can be called up with over 100 AB's in the minors and hit the ground running.

I mentioned in a post last week, that Phil Wood has been mentioning this for weeks on his Saturday Nats Talk MASB show and I first I thought it was crazy. But he layed out the case again to start the show last week and I now beleive it will happen.

Oh boy, you guys are really bringing back memories. I went to Md from 63-68 (5 year plan of course) and then was an assist for two more years before leaving for a head coaching job. I had a great pitcher named Mark Harris for a roommate and his JJJJack JJJackson stories had us rolling on the ground. You see coach JJJJackson had a bit of a stuttering problem and back then there was nothing off limits as far as political correctness. One of the one's I can post is JJJJack telling his men that the mmmmmost important ppppperson in the ggggame was the cacacaca - man behind the plate!!

I returned to Maryland when they cleaned house after Bias and that's when Tom arrived as well. We both had our scholarships drastically cut and things were tough. I don't think I ever saw the man smile but he was a hell of a baseball coach.

I need LIVE BASEBALL!!!!! Sorry , temporary fit of frustration brought on by work and a winter that is going on too long. Go back to what you were doing. But, I really do need it. And not the WBC. Real baseball, Nats baseball, the real pitchers and the real line up. In games that count!

Tcostant - I hope you are wrong. I am no Phil Wood but my rebuttal to that would be that Tyler Moore proved he can handle major league pitching last year and has tremendous power. It is Owings that needs the reps in the field and at the plate as he has never played a position besides pitcher. Ownings "cheapness" should have nothing to do with where he plays. He will make the major league minimum at best and Moore is not that expensive either. This can't be about money.

Let me know what I am missing here.

On this site we now have one person calling for Storen to be sent down and Phil Woods calling for Tyler Moore. That would be one hell of a team in Syracuse I guess but somehow I think Rizzo wants to win the World Series and not the minor league WS (whatever the hell that is called).

I don't think Owings will be coming north with the team, or driving south from Syracuse at any time in the near future. On the other hand, the small sample size from last year does not support the claim that "Tyler Moore proved he can handle major league pitching . . .." Especially as his dwindling at bats at the end of the year paralleled his dwindling ABs. He's still a "See ball, hit ball" hitter and needs to add at least a little bit of science to his approach at the plate before I agree that he has "proved" anything.

I was convinced Phil Wood was wrong a month ago. But ever week he has talked about and I think he makes the point that the Nationals think Tyler Moore is a future starter and because of that they rather he get AB's and not accure ML service time.

In reality Owings wouldn't play the field much, as the shark would be the OF replacement, if needed. If an injury occured, Tyler Moore would be the first man up from the minors.

I not saying I like it either, but I truely beleive that this is this year's "surprise" move. I truely think it will happen.

You know, Tyler's future with the Nats IS an issue. If they are looking at him to play first after ALR( yes, I know you think RZ is moving there), then is his development being slowed down? Do the Nats go with him on the bench as the best thing for this year's team? Do they send him down? Do they figure out a way to keep him up without stalling him? If he can hit this way on few AB's then ok. Our outfield is full for a while. Trade? I am so glad I am not the one figuring this out.

This whole thing about Moore needing ABs every day didn't seem to deter Rizzo from calling him up last year. In this WSOB season, Moore is the hairy chested right handed PH that Davey wants sitting next to him on the bench. Not a chance Owings comes north.

I think Tyler's hitting is fine. If we had a DH, that would work. He has played 1b for a long time. He is not Adam Dunn over there. No, he isn't the other Adam either, but who is? If he became the starter he would work hard and eventually he could become a good MLB 1b. It's not getting defensive reps over a long time that could be tough.

Last year there were a lot of injuries and Moore proved he belonged. But remember he doesn't need to release Moore, just send him to AAA and delay ML service time. I think some people forget how SS stayed in the minors long past when he was ready because of possible Super Two status.

As I said, I'm now conviced it will happen (Owings to make the major league roster and for Tyler Moore to get sent to AAA), becuase their is no risk. If Owings isn't cutting, you just move on and bring Moore up.

I think the NI community are victims of their own success. We did such a good job of managing the team and the roster last season we have nothing to do but dip straw wrappers in the mashed potatoes and shoot them at the ceiling.

I think the NI community are victims of their own success. We did such a good job of managing the team and the roster last season we have nothing to do but dip straw wrappers in the mashed potatoes and shoot them at the ceiling. March 19, 2013 5:50 PM

I'm willing to bet Mark real money that Abad makes the team. Abad NOT making the team pretty much goes against everything Davey Johnson believes he needs in a roster to manager a winner ... as he has stated time-and-time-again ... in a continuous repeat loop.

It is a ways off but what is the biking like out in Napa or in San Franciso? Will I be able to rent a decent bike? We are going to be there in May to cheer on our Nationals and maybe, just maybe drink a little wine and craft beer.

Just got my latest copy of ESPN the magazine. It is the baseball issue. Guess who they pick to win the World Series? Yes, our Washington Nationals! Of course they make a notation that out of over 300 picks in the last few years by their "experts" only 22 have been correct.

Still, when they look at our team they have a range that goes from 98 to 88 wins with 88 being the low. I realize Rabbit was not on this panel but things sure look good on paper. They chose Soriano as the most critical player for us this season and they do not blame the Strasburg shutdown for our playoff failure but lay that on the bullpen.

Can anyone tell me if Bernadina has options? He really is behind the rest of our lads and if anyone needs at bats and playing time it would be him. The rest of you can send Storen, or Tyler Moore down but I am sending Bernadina down (if he has options) and bringing Corey Brown back until Bernadina is showing me he is ready. They are basically the same player in my opinion.

The biking out toward Napa is likely better than it is on the CC where I toodle around. Cal Trans put that stoney chip seal coating on the shoulders of the roads north toward Bi Sur and Piedras Blancas. Several large (we're talking 45,00o members in one case) cycling clubs issued stern protests to Cal Trans about that. Seems they are getting anti-cyclist. I don't think these are issues in Napa or Marin. Lovely, sunny and beautiful compared to the June gloom of SF and Pac Bell.

I suspect they could trade Bernadina if they really wanted to before that would happen. If Corey Brown is a better answer in Davey's mind that could happen. But he didn't have the best spring.

As for Tyler Moore. HE IS THEIR best power hitter period. He is the heir apparent to Michael Morse. He isn't going anywhere. That should have been made clear to all when Davey continued to put him in right field for Werth. Like it or not Natslady T-Mo is an outfielder not a first baseman. And his range will be far more limited than Morse's was. But at least he has good knees unlike the Hammer and the Beast.

I love Phil Wood and Mike Wallace on Natstalk - my favorite hour of the weekend during the offseason. I don't know if the Micah prediction will come true, and can't really remember in what context he made the suggestion, so I'll leave that alone... but Phil's awesome in my book.

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About the Author

Mark Zuckerman has covered the Nationals since the franchise arrived in D.C. He's been a member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America since 2001 and is a Hall of Fame voter. Email mzuckerman@comcastsportsnet.com.